Tire date code calculator

Find the DOT code on your tire's sidewall and enter its last four digits.

Questions

Where is the date code on a tire?

Look for the letters DOT on the sidewall. The last four digits of the code that follows are the date: the first two are the week and the last two are the year. 2319 means the 23rd week of 2019. It may only be on one side of the tire.

How old is too old for a tire?

Many vehicle and tire makers recommend replacing tires 6 to 10 years after they were made, whatever the tread depth, because rubber hardens and cracks with age. Have tires over 5 years old inspected every year.

What if the code has only three digits?

Tires made before 2000 used three digits: two for the week and one for the year of the decade. Any tire with a three-digit code is now more than 25 years old and should be replaced.

Is it OK to buy "new" tires that are a few years old?

Tires stored properly age slowly, and many shops sell tires up to a few years old. Check the date code before mounting and ask for newer stock if it is more than 2 to 3 years old.